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Observations of Large-Amplitude, Parallel, Electrostatic Waves Associated with the Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability by the Magnetospheric Multiscale MissionOn 8 September 2015, the four Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft encountered a Kelvin-Helmholtz unstable magnetopause near the dusk flank. The spacecraft observed periodic compressed current sheets, between which the plasma was turbulent. We present observations of large-amplitude (up to 100 mVm) oscillations in the electric field. Because these oscillations are purely parallel to the background magnetic field, electrostatic, and below the ion plasma frequency, they are likely to be ion acoustic-like waves. These waves are observed in a turbulent plasma where multiple particle populations are intermittently mixed, including cold electrons with energies less than 10 eV. Stability analysis suggests a cold electron component is necessary for wave growth.
Document ID
20170003506
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Wilder, F. D.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Ergun, R. E.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Schwartz, S. J.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Newman, D. L.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Eriksson, S.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Stawarz, J. E.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Goldman, M. V.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Goodrich, K. A.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Gershman, D. J.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Malaspina, D.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Holmes, J. C.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Sturner, A. P.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Burch, J. L.
(Southwest Research Inst. San Antonio, TX, United States)
Torbert, R. B.
(New Hampshire Univ. Durham, NH, United States)
Lindqvist, P.-A.
(Royal Inst. of Tech. Stockholm, Sweden)
Marklund, G. T.
(Royal Inst. of Tech. Stockholm, Sweden)
Khotyaintsev, Y.
(Swedish Inst. of Space Physics Uppsala, Sweden)
Strangeway, R. J.
(California Univ. Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Russell, C. T.
(California Univ. Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Pollock, C. J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Giles, B. L.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Dorrelli, J. C.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Avanov, L. A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Patterson, W. R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Plaschke, F.
(Oesterreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften Graz, Austria)
Magnes, W.
(Oesterreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften Graz, Austria)
Date Acquired
April 17, 2017
Publication Date
September 3, 2016
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 43
Issue: 17
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Plasma Physics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN41025
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG11PL02A
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG11PL02A
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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